John Simon Ritchie, a name which will mean very little to people, bring little thought or judgement, however, his stage name or rather nickname does in Sid Vicious.
Immediately there is a violent thought, there are the thoughts of suicide, murder and perhaps a one of pity.
Some of these thoughts, especially the one of him committing a murder may not be fully true, but there is the violence, yes, there was a violent persona especially in his image, his self harm on stage and if you believe Nick Kent the way Sid could swing a bicycle chain.
But that is one view if you see the footage of the Sex Pistols playing a gig in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, England on Christmas Day 1977 you get a totally different view.

In that year over 30,000 firefighters went on strike across England over unfair pay claims and conditions of work, although they were still answering emergency calls, the army was called in to handle everything else.
That Christmas the children of the firefighters were suffering as a result and so we have the most unlikely of events triggering and one which was going against the grain of the populist idea created by the press of the day.

The Sex Pistols played for the children of the striking firemen on that Christmas Day, now you start to come away with a very different image and idea.
Whereas the survivor footage shows, Sid Vicious dancing and laughing with children and having food fights, all good fun and all natural for a young twenty-year old man.
Seems very implausible that the anti-establishment, anarchists of rage the Sex Pistols could play the part of Santa Claus ,but they did.

What is more significant was, this occasion was the last time The Sex Pistols played in the UK with Sid Vicious, within three-weeks the band had imploded on the first leg of their tour of the United States.

Stories of good nature are not usually associated with Sid Vicious or the Sex Pistols, if there are such stories similar to this they have been buried underneath by the tabloid jewels of hate, but very soon you realise that they were victims of their own image, where the part they were playing took over the person they were and this is very true for young John Simon Ritchie.

Photo © Ray Stevenson

On this day, 6 years ago, Nine Inch Nails released Not the Actual Events (December 23rd, 2016), an EP released on Trent Reznor's own label The Null Corporation. On this EP Trent worked together with long-time collaborator Atticus Ross, his wife Mariqueen Maandig (How to Destroy Angels), Dave Navarro (Jane's Addiction / Red Hot Chili Peppers) and Dave Grohl (Nirvana / Foo Fighters).

Not the Actual Events is meant to be the first part of a EP trilogy. In July 2017 the second part Add Violence was released while the announcement for release from the third and final EP can be expected any day now.

The overall sound on this EP reminds to the 1990's sound of Nine Inch Nails’s, electronics, distorted bass, noisy guitars and of course one of Trent's most recognizable trademarks... The nostalgic piano tunes.
Reznor himself described the record as “an unfriendly, fairly impenetrable record that we needed to make.”

Tracklist
1. Branches/Bones
2. Dear World
3. She's Gone Away
4.The Idea of You
5. Burning Bright (Field on Fire)
All tracks written by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.
www.nin.com

discogs

Synthpop artist, Meersein recently unveiled their third single, "Speechless". In this acoustic version, which presents the artist’s first single in a stunning new guise, Meersein sums up the fear of failing someone who seems too good to be true.

We all live in a society that puts us under immense pressure; perfection instead of individuality. The fear of failing every day and not conforming to the norm hinders us even in something as natural and inscrutable as love.

With a minimalistic arrangement and soulful piano contrasting with Meersein’s classic synth-based electro aesthetic, the lyrics take centre stage. The equally minimal lyric video helps invite you deeper into the heart of the singer. Both melancholic and affirmative, “Speechless” reminds you that you are not alone with your doubts. We are hundreds. We are thousands.

Do you know the feeling of being completely overcome by a sudden rush of emotion? You see that one person who makes your heart beat faster and you are stopped in your tracks. All you can do is surrender to the awe of the moment. This is "Speechless".

linktr.ee/meersein

In December 1981, 41 years ago, American Punk rock band Dead Kennedys released their infamous In God We Trust, Inc. EP. It was their first release featuring their new drummer D.H. Peligro. The record is a screed against things ranging from organized religion and Neo-Nazis, to the use of pesticide and government indifference that worsened the effects of chemical catastrophes. In God We Trust, Inc. is also the first Dead Kennedys album released after the presidential election of Ronald Reagan and features the band's aversion towards Reagan, for which they would become notorious.

The EP features also "We've Got a Bigger Problem Now" which is actually a rewritten version of their early “hitsingle” single "California über alles". Originally a rant against California governor Jerry Brown, the band reworked the song addressing the newly elected president Ronald Reagan. Most songs were based on previous unreleased songs and were recorded live in the studio on 19 June 1981, without any overdubs.

Disaster struck when it was discovered the mastertape containing the whole recording sessions turned out to be malfunctioning so the band was forced to re-record all eight songs on 22 August thats same year.

However in 2003 enhanced restoration techniques allowed for five tracks to be recovered from the master tapes. They were released on DVD together with recorded video footage of those original recording sessions.

Dead Kennedys – In God We Trust, Inc. (12" EP)

A1. 2. 3. 4. 5. B1. 2. 3.

DISCOGS

Dead Kennedys (Line-up 1981)
Jello Biafra – lead vocals, artwork
East Bay Ray – guitar, backing vocals on "Moral Majority", producer
Klaus Flouride – bass, backing vocals
D.H. Peligro – drums

Darkwave band, Stariana has just unveiled their new single, "Paradise Is Lost On You".

"Paradise Is Lost On You" is an anthemic rebuttal to the flawed notion that a person loving and living outside the traditional norms of society is somehow immoral or broken.

We will celebrate being alive and live as vibrantly as possible, regardless of what those who won't understand might think or say. Paradise is lost on them. In other words, the song brings the message of not giving up in the face of adversity

"Paradise Is Lost On You" is available digitally on Apple Itunes and Amazon.com

stariana.com